DFMMay2017Insidethisedition
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WE’RE ALL PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY, IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD
WHAT IS DEFENCE
COMMUNITY
ORGANISATION?
We are a tri-service organisation within the
Department of Defence that offers a range
of programs and services to help Defence
members and their families manage the
military lifestyle.
Services we provide include support
from a social worker, assistance for
partners’ employment, help with childcare,
assistance for dependants with special
needs, support for community groups,
help for families during crisis and
emergency, education support for
children, and assistance for members
leaving the military.
www.defence.gov.au/dco
www.facebook.com/Defence
CommunityOrganisation
Twitter and Instagram
— @DCO_AusDefence
CALL US SO WE CAN
CALL YOU
If you’d like to receive contact from
DCO during your military member’s
deployment, you must register with the
Defence Family Helpline first.
We can also provide you with details
about local events, SMART resilience
workshops, DCO’s range of support
programs, deployment and relocation
resources, and information about your
local community.
1800 624 608
WANT TO READ THIS
MAGAZINE ONLINE?
DFM is available on our website.
Visit www.defence.gov.au/dco and click
on ‘Defence Family Matters’. Send an
email to DefenceFamilyMatters@
defence.gov.au if you’d like to stop
receiving a hard copy in the post.
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
Do you run events or activities that may
interest Defence families? Do you provide
support services of value to Defence
families? Are you a family member with a
great story to tell? If so, send an email to
DefenceFamilyMatters@defence.gov.au
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YOUR STORIES
10 COVER STORY
Going from expecting
to the unexpected
The early arrival of
identical twins
13 The simple joy of seaside
holidays together
14 Dancing through life
15 New opportunities for
young couple
16 Support to make the next
move
17 On the move
18 Staff profile: Nicole Lane,
Travelling through life
19 Reader profile: Susie
Campbell, Gypsy sailor
YOUR COMMUNITY
4 Out and about
DCO Welcome events
8 Connect with your
community
Meet community groups
supporting military families
YOUR WELLBEING
20 It’s all about balance
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
22 The adventure of a
lifetime
23 Support for ADF and
veterans’ kids
24 Latest from Defence
Families of Australia
26 Tyler Turtle gets KidSmart
27 Play on, Defence kids!
28 Life beyond now
29 Unwrapping your rights
and responsibilities
30 Help to restore mental
health
31 Support for victims of
family and domestic
violence
32 Posting to a new location
made easier
33 Little-known chapter of
our history
34 Classifieds
Cover photo: Elise and Wayne with their children Isabella, 13, Samuel, 11, Maddison, 10,
and twins Charli and Peyton, 11 months. Photo by Catherine Lowe.
Production team
Editor: Tamara Robinson
Communication manager: Alex DeValentin
Design: WhiteFox
Printing: CanPrint